ST. LOUIS — Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma bristled when asked about the perception that Stanford is a soft team and suggested that players are sometimes judged based on racial stereotypes.

“I know this is going to get played out the wrong way. But I’m going to say it anyway,” he said. “And I know I’m going to get criticized for this. White kids are always looked upon as being soft.

“So Stanford’s got a tremendous amount of really good players who for whatever reason, because they don’t look like Tina Charles or Maya Moore, the perception out there is going to be, well, they must be soft.

“Well, I think that’s a bunch of bull. I watched them play, and nobody goes harder to the boards. Nobody takes more charges. Nobody runs the floor as hard. Those kids are as tough as any of the kids in the country.”

“As if to say we’re not,” he said. “You know, it’s just the perceptions out there that people make. And, yet, you don’t get here to play in these games if you’re not tough, if you’re not disciplined, if you’re not talented, and you don’t do all the little things that good players do.”

Post power.

Count Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer among those impressed with the immense talent in the post at the Final Four.

Her Cardinal team is led by 6-foot-4 star Jayne Appel, while Oklahoma has one of the most imposing post players of all-time in Courtney Paris. Throw in Connecticut’s Tina Charles and this may be one of the best groups of centers in a Final Four.

“How often do you get three that good coming through at the same time?” VanDerveer said.

Paris has gotten the most attention with her NCAA record double-double streak of 112 games, while Appel has put together an impressive tournament with a 46-point effort in the regional finals against Iowa State.

“These women are really comfortable with themselves and who they are,” VanDerveer said. “You can just tell being around them that they love the game of basketball.”

Charles has steadily improved her game this season, leading Auriemma to consider her the key to the team’s success.

“When she plays well, we win,” he said.

WNBA success.

UConn has no equal in the Final Four when it comes to having WNBA players.

A dozen former Huskies played in the league last season, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Swin Cash. Stanford was second on the list with four active players: Nicole Powell, Olympia Scott, Brooke Smith and Candice Wiggins.

Neither Oklahoma or Louisville had anyone playing in the league last season, although that is sure to change with the Sooners’ Courtney Paris and the Cardinals’ Angel McCoughtry expected to be taken in the first few picks in the draft Thursday.

Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson had butterflies before Sunday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. It wasn't because of the big-name opponent, but rather his return from a 13-game injury absence and being stoked to rejoin a team in a playoff push and looking for its third postseason appearance in 10 years.